Podcast: What Does It Mean When the Bible Says Life Is Meaningless? (Lydia Brownback)

This text is a part of the The Crossway Podcast sequence.

How you can Dwell Properly in Gentle of a Laborious Life

Ecclesiastes is a type of books of the Bible that we don’t at all times know what to do with. A lot of it will possibly really feel a bit international, and typically it will possibly even appear to be at odds with what Scripture teaches elsewhere. On this episode, Lydia Brownback talks via methods to method the guide of Ecclesiastes and factors out its core message for Christians immediately.

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | RSS

Matters Addressed in This Interview:

Matt Tully
Effectively, Lydia, thanks for becoming a member of me once more on the Crossway Podcast.

Lydia Brownback
Nice to be again, Matt. It’s been a very long time.

Matt Tully
At present we’re going to speak concerning the guide of Ecclesiastes, and I’d dare to say that it’s possibly one of many least studied books within the Bible. Or possibly it’s one which we are able to really feel a bit bit unsure about. Would you resonate with that?

Lydia Brownback
Sure. I believe lots of people will resonate with that. We get to it, and we don’t fairly know what to make of it. It’s perplexing. We all know it’s a part of the Bible’s knowledge literature, so we take it and we method it that approach.

Matt Tully
What are a few of the different books that might be categorized as knowledge literature?

Lydia Brownback
Proverbs is the one that everybody thinks of instantly. Job is definitely a knowledge guide, and a few of the psalms are thought of knowledge psalms. It’s a convention of historical writing that wasn’t simply in historical Israel; it was in a whole lot of cultures within the historical Close to East. They might collect sayings, proverbs about how the world works and methods to function and stay in it efficiently. Tere have been colleges of knowledge. So we see this cross exterior of simply what now we have within the Bible to scriptures in different religions and different cultures. However there’s a particular to the Bible’s knowledge literature, and it’s all oriented underneath one major function, which is the worry of the Lord. So Biblical knowledge differs from knowledge in different cultures in that it’s underneath the worry of Yahweh, the worry of the Lord. So that’s knowledge—the worry of the Lord—and that’s awe, reverence, and centering one’s life utterly on Jesus, on the Lord.

Matt Tully
Any of us who’ve learn any of Ecclesiastes will know that it’s acquired a special taste to it. So I ponder in the event you might simply assist orient us earlier than we begin speaking about specifics. How would you summarize the primary level of Ecclesiastes?

Lydia Brownback
That’s an incredible query. I’d say the primary level is life is difficult. There’s a cause for that, which is sin. There’s a method to stay correctly in gentle of a tough life, and right here is how. That’s the theme of the guide.

Matt Tully
It looks like in some methods it’s such a sensible guide. It meets us within the messiness of life in a really possible way.

Lydia Brownback
It does and it makes us concentrate on issues we don’t wish to take into consideration an excessive amount of, like loss of life. That’s a giant theme. And now we have to face again and take into account lots of people keep away from this guide as a result of they discover it miserable. There are even commentaries on the market that may say the preacher, or the narrator who’s telling the story, is simply doom and gloom and it’s actually miserable. Truly, in the event you actually begin learning, it’s meant to be hope stuffed. There’s a whole lot of hope right here. It’s practical about life’s difficulties, however inside that realism and due to that realism, the place will we go for hope? Life is difficult. That’s actual. That’s a reality. If we wish to keep away from that and if we’re coming to Scripture to search out only a little bit of encouragement for the morning, this isn’t your go-to guide until you perceive methods to learn it. Clearly, we by no means simply wish to go to Scripture for encouragement within the morning; we wish to go to know our God higher. And so how do we discover him uniquely on this guide? We do it by dealing with the truth of life.

Matt Tully
Communicate a bit bit extra to that dynamic that all of us really feel typically. We typically can method our Bible studying nearly for a each day dose of encouragement. That may make books like Ecclesiastes—and there are most likely different books which might be like this—make them rather less interesting to us.

Lydia Brownback
Folks have ten minutes within the morning, and so what are their go-to verses? One thing joyful from Philippians or a psalm about how God is defending and caring and shepherding us. And so then they learn that, they usually go on their approach with a prayer. However what they miss from doing that’s the complete counsel of God, which is from Genesis to Revelation. We go to Scripture not simply to have a contented encouragement within the morning, but it surely’s to know and to anchor our souls within the One who upholds our life. And that’s the place the encouragement comes, whether or not we discover it in a fast ten-minute studying or not. So understanding who God is takes studying all the Bible, together with books like Ecclesiastes.

Matt Tully
And one factor that I like a few guide like Ecclesiastes is that it does, in a sure sense and from a sure perspective, it meets us within the hardness, the truth of the trials of life that all of us face. And typically that’s actually essential, to know that God is aware of about this battle that we really feel like we’re dealing with day after day.

Lydia Brownback
Effectively, yeah. He not solely is aware of it, however the factor is so distinctive about Ecclesiastes is it forces us to have a look at it. This guide takes us again to Genesis 3 on the fall, and it’s displaying us that every part that was talked about there—what the Lord stated there about “cursed is the bottom” and “by the sweat of your forehead you’ll need to work”—

Matt Tully
“And also you shall certainly die.”

Lydia Brownback
Sure. All of the issues within the so-called curse there in Genesis 3 we’re seeing performed out within the realities which might be given to us in Ecclesiastes. So there’s a whole lot of speak about loss of life in Ecclesiastes. And so we predict, Why do individuals keep away from this? Effectively, in the identical approach immediately, we don’t wish to have funerals anymore. We wish to have celebrations of life. And so there’s a giant factor constructed round that. Let’s have fun the great life that individual had. And typically that’s an exquisite factor, however is it a approach additionally to keep away from dealing with the problem of the truth of loss of life? And so this guide makes us need to face these laborious issues.

Matt Tully
Within the introduction to this new research that you simply’ve written, you name the guide of Ecclesiastes “a function journey.” Why do you name it that?

Lydia Brownback
Kohelet is setting out on a function journey to search out the which means of life. And we see within the opening chapters that he exams every part he can get his palms on, whether or not it’s food and drinks and intercourse and riches and buying as a lot materials achieve as he can, having nice success in his industries that he units out to do. And so is there happiness in that? Is there which means in that? Is there function in that? And alongside the way in which, every factor he exams and every factor he tries, no, it’s not the reply. After which he really, as he’s wanting and testing all these items, he notices all these injustices on the earth. Effectively, individuals who work actually laborious typically can pour their life out into incomes and simply saving sufficient for his or her household to cross on to their children. Effectively, they die a tragic loss of life, they lose all their cash, somebody steals it, and their children get it. As he’s wanting on the world, he sees injustices like that. He sees oppression, the place the great man usually will get smashed down by the evil man, and what do you do with that? And he’s attempting to ask, How will we stay in a world like this? How will we perceive a world like this?

Matt Tully
You talked about a bit bit earlier than that the guide of Ecclesiastes is knowledge literature. It’s a sure style of Scripture that really goes past simply the Christian Scriptures. However what could be a few of the key issues we should always learn about how knowledge literature works? And the way may that influence how we really begin studying this guide? As a result of we shouldn’t learn it precisely like we would learn one of many Gospels and even one of many historic books. So what could be a few of the floor guidelines for studying and understanding knowledge literature?

Lydia Brownback
That’s actually nice to speak about. I believe a whole lot of the approaches actually have been helped by how we take a look at the guide of Proverbs. There are precise proverbs in Ecclesiastes. We’re to not take every part there as guarantees, as concrete. “In case you do that, you’re going to get this.”

Matt Tully
It’s not a math equation.

Lydia Brownback
No. These are observations. For a lot of the knowledge literature, what we see in it are observations about how God has wired the world to work and the way it’s affected by the autumn, by man’s sin, and the way God intervenes in that. We’re speculated to see it as observations. That’s the place knowledge is. After which from that to attract conclusions about methods to stay constructively. That’s actually what it’s.

Matt Tully
Let’s begin speaking about just a few particular passages. I’m positive a few of these are going to be fairly acquainted. These are those that we regularly may come throughout in our Bible studying and simply suppose, What am I speculated to do with this little bit of data? Or we might even really feel a bit bit disconcerted. They don’t at all times appear to suit with even different elements of Scripture. So let’s begin with primarily the primary line within the guide, and that’s maybe probably the most well-known line of the guide. “Self-importance of vanities, says the Preacher, self-importance of vanities! All is self-importance.” I’ve to suppose that possibly of all of the biblical books, this has acquired to be one of many darkest sounding openings. Typically we perceive this to imply pointless or nugatory or fleeting. Every little thing is pointless. What’s going on right here? How would you assist us to know this opening verse?

Lydia Brownback
Let’s interpret self-importance initially. It doesn’t imply satisfaction, wanting within the mirror and saying, “I believe a whole lot of myself.” It’s not that type of self-importance. It’s not a girl who’s being useless. It means meaningless or empty right here. So it’s saying, “Every little thing is meaningless. Every little thing is meaningless.” So in the event you simply observe the world round you and the way the injustices and different issues that we see daily, you can come to that conclusion. So he’s saying, “That is how the world is. Let’s face it.” However he’s setting the stage to inform us, “Sure, aside from God every part is self-importance.” He desires us to see that there is no such thing as a level to life aside from God. And it’s all meaningless aside from God. So he’s stripping out the one factor that makes it significant with the intention to drive us there.

Matt Tully
One of many issues that I seen, although, is that this sentiment, this concept that every one is self-importance, it really comes again close to the tip of the guide in Ecclesiastes 12:8, the place he says the identical factor once more. Why do you suppose he does that? Why does he begin out with that assertion after which nearly finish with it? There’s one other part after that, however he ends with that comparable sentiment.

Lydia Brownback
He’s bookending. So if we see it twice there, that’s telling us one thing. It’s starting his story, after which he’s wrapping it up. After which now we have this type of appendix afterward. So he’s beginning with that and saying the identical factor to emphasise the purpose he’s simply made. So when he begins out with saying, “Meaningless, meaningless, self-importance of vanities, every part is self-importance,” he’s saying, “Okay, take notice. That is what I’m about to let you know.” After which on the finish he’s saying, “That is what I simply advised you.”

Matt Tully
That’s useful. That’s an excellent factor for us to remember after we learn our Bibles is that oftentimes we see these pairings or we see the biblical writers begin someplace after which ultimately come again to an analogous sentiment. And that may actually clue us into what the primary level of that passage was.

Lydia Brownback
Yeah. Precisely.

Matt Tully
So let’s flip then to Ecclesiastes 2:16. I ponder in the event you might learn that verse for us, after which assist us perceive what he’s getting at with this passage.

Lydia Brownback
Verse 16 says, “For of the smart as of the idiot there is no such thing as a enduring remembrance, seeing that within the days to come back all may have been lengthy forgotten. How the smart dies similar to the idiot!”

Matt Tully
We hear that verse, and it will possibly, a minimum of on a primary studying, appear to counsel that there’s actually no level in being smart. What’s the purpose of being smart versus being a idiot, as a result of they’re each going to die simply the identical? And so it nearly seems like that verse is saying knowledge isn’t really that essential.

Lydia Brownback
The remark he’s making on this verse is that whether or not you’re smart or silly, everybody’s going to finish up useless. So it relies on why you’re going after it. That’s what he desires us to consider. Why are you pursuing knowledge? Do you suppose it’s going to perform rather a lot for you in an earthly realm? Do you suppose it’s going to purchase you management over your life or your loss of life? No. So why are you going after it? I believe he desires his reader to course of why they do issues. And that’s a part of knowledge too. It makes us take into consideration our motives. If you wish to be smart, is it for egocentric achieve, or is it since you wish to stay underneath the authority of God, which is the place actual knowledge is? So are we pursuing knowledge as a result of we predict it’s going to get us one thing on this life, or are we pursuing it as a result of we wish to be near our God?

Matt Tully
That’s such a useful factor as a result of as we take into consideration our personal lives, there might be so many “good habits” or good methods of pondering or doing issues. Possibly we’re very self-controlled or very disciplined or we work actually laborious, but it surely looks like this can be a good reminder that we are able to pursue all these smart issues for the improper causes typically.

Lydia Brownback
Yeah. Precisely. And recognizing that in ourselves is knowledge.

Matt Tully
One other passage only a few verses later in chapter 2, verse 24. I ponder in the event you might learn that for us.

Lydia Brownback
It says, “There’s nothing higher for an individual than that he ought to eat and drink and discover enjoyment in his toil. This additionally, I noticed, is from the hand of God . . . .”

Matt Tully
That’s one other one the place we nearly hear in that verse this basic phrase that I believe nearly stands because the anti-Christian sentiment. Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die. It nearly seems like that’s what he’s saying. How will we perceive that?

Lydia Brownback
He’s saying right here that allow’s not despise the day of small issues in some methods. He’s telling us one thing about God right here, which is that the rhythm of a easy life is a present. There’s a humility and a gratitude in simply with the ability to say, Am I capable of work laborious? Am I capable of then sit down with my household on the finish of the day and revel in a easy dinner? Can I take pleasure within the issues I’ve in my life? Or is there this internal striving that at all times desires extra, the following factor, the higher factor? What’s over right here? What’s subsequent? Possibly it was Howard Hughes who on his deathbed somebody stated to him, “How a lot cash is sufficient?” and he stated, “Just a bit bit extra.” I’m mixing up my rich individual tales right here, but it surely’s the identical concept. We will get in our hearts, as soon as we’ve achieved one thing, that there needs to be one thing else. And we’re at all times on the lookout for that subsequent factor. Individuals who undergo life dwelling for what they’ll get out of this life miss each little bit of pleasure that they’ll discover in it. That’s what he’s attempting to say. And he’s pointing us to God, who provides us issues, and every part now we have is a present. And that’s the knowledge that comes out of this verse—recognizing that no matter now we have, nevertheless little it might be compared to others, is a present. Subsequently, after we acknowledge that, we are able to get pleasure from it.

Matt Tully
It makes me consider some story I heard—it could possibly be apocryphal, as a few of these can are typically—however Tom Brady did some interview after successful what quantity Tremendous Bowl he had. And so they requested him, “How does that make you’re feeling? Do you’re feeling like you’ve got extra you wish to accomplish as arguably one of many biggest soccer gamers of all time?” And he stated one thing like, “It doesn’t actually fulfill.” There’s at all times extra that we are able to need. That’s our pure bent as people is we’re at all times dissatisfied with what now we have.

Lydia Brownback
Sure. And the knowledge is glad as a result of it acknowledges there’s one thing past this life. And so it’s nearly like as soon as we acknowledge God is God, that’s our future, he’s controlling every part, we would as properly simply be at peace and relaxation in his care and revel in. That allows us and equips us to get pleasure from our life.

Matt Tully
It’s so ironic too that in our effort and in our pursuit of having fun with the following nice, the following larger factor that we could be pursuing, whether or not that’s a sure type of job or a sure type of wage or a sure type of partner, no matter it could be, it really causes us to overlook out on the enjoyment that’s throughout us and accessible to us already.

Lydia Brownback
Sure. And biblical knowledge acknowledges this. Discover how every part we’re saying factors us to the supply of knowledge—the One who’s knowledge—and recognizing that any knowledge we get is rooted in that knowledge.

Matt Tully
And it’s additionally marred by the autumn, by our sinful nature that drives us to, similar to Adam and Eve, to pursue a knowledge and a pleasure aside from God.

Lydia Brownback
Yeah. This guide, Ecclesiastes, is nearly a sermon on the autumn, after which redemption on the finish.

Matt Tully
Let’s flip to a different passage only a few verses later originally of chapter 3. That is this well-known record of contrasts—I’m unsure what we might name these—contrasts that all of us expertise in our lives. He talks a few time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pluck, a time to kill and a time to heal, to weep and chortle, to remain silent and to talk. What’s happening with all these contrasts? What’s the primary level as he walks via these various things that we expertise in our lives?

Lydia Brownback
I believe we’re not meant to have a look at every little factor and attempt to discover which means in what he’s saying in every verse. We’re supposed to have a look at it as a complete and say he’s describing right here the course of a life—what life seems like. There are ups and downs, peaks and valleys. And that is simply going to be life for each human being, not simply God’s individuals, however that is the lifestyle. And don’t stay within the nice occasions and suppose that’s indefinite, as a result of in the event you’re at a peak, there’s going to be a valley. And don’t let the valleys make you despair, as a result of there’s going to be a mountain once more. He’s describing, once more, an remark of how God has made the world to work.

Matt Tully
And what does it imply that he’s put eternity into our hearts? How does that join with what he has simply talked about?

Lydia Brownback
It’s mainly saying, and we see that within the New Testomony too the place Paul stated God might be identified from the issues which might be made, and it’s saying there’s an consciousness of God in each human being. There’s an consciousness of God. Folks can keep away from it, they’ll ignore it, however any human that God has created in his picture is conscious, at some depth, that there’s God. And so are they going to acknowledge that? That’s knowledge. Or are they going to maintain rejecting it, turning their again on it, and filling their lives chasing issues which might be meaningless?

Matt Tully
I’ve additionally puzzled if that phrase pertains to how he’s simply walked via all the, at occasions, chaotic nature of our lives. There are ups and downs, such as you stated, and peaks and valleys. And that every one drives all people, to some extent, to lengthy for this everlasting relaxation and everlasting stability that we’re designed for, in the end.

Lydia Brownback
Sure. And that’s the gorgeous redemption that the preacher desires to carry out on this guide. Good or unhealthy, no matter’s happening, God is utilizing it for his functions, for his glory, to attract individuals to himself, to attract them to salvation, to disclose himself. It’s revelation of who God is. And his coronary heart would incline to say, “Come to me.” After all. Completely.

Matt Tully
Let’s leap forward only a couple extra passages. In chapter 7, verses 15 to 16 it looks like the writer means that we shouldn’t pursue righteousness wholeheartedly as a result of it received’t actually save us from bother, and it’s type of pointless to pursue righteousness. Are you able to learn these two verses and assist us perceive?

Lydia Brownback
Positive. It says, “In my useless life I’ve seen every part. There’s a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there’s a depraved man who prolongs his life in his evildoing. Be not overly righteous, and don’t make your self too smart. Why must you destroy your self?”

Matt Tully
Once more, that one most likely for me is probably the most tough. “Be not overly righteous.” It simply seems like he’s saying, “Don’t be so intense about pursuing righteousness as a result of in the end, it won’t really save your life. It won’t delay your life. Your life might nonetheless be very laborious.” How does that match with what we see in the remainder of the Bible?

Lydia Brownback
He’s not saying that. What he’s saying right here is that in the event you try this, it’s mainly legalism. In case you suppose that you simply’re going to earn God’s favor, earn his rewards, earn all the great stuff you need out of life by making your self righteous, it’s works righteousness. That’s what he’s rejecting right here. So it’s this perspective that thinks, If I simply do that, after all I’m going to get that. So he’s saying, no, that’s the improper method to go about it.

Matt Tully
So it looks like it’s coming again to that motives challenge. It’s why are you pursuing righteousness in your life, not simply that it’s pointless to do it basically.

Lydia Brownback
Effectively, after all, as a result of if Scripture interprets Scripture, we all know we’re referred to as to pursue righteousness. We have been advised that every one via the Bible, so we all know that that’s not what he’s counseling right here. So how will we perceive it in gentle of the remainder of Scripture? It’s that we don’t suppose that our righteousness earns us God’s favor.

Matt Tully
So then how will we perceive a passage like this that’s type of warning us in opposition to legalism, warning us in opposition to a transactional view of righteousness, the place we do that good factor and God rewards us, how will we match that with even the fifth commandment within the Ten Commandments, which talks about honor your father and mom that you simply may get pleasure from a protracted life? And there are many Proverbs like that too that talk to do that good factor, act justly on this proper approach, and there might be a reward for that. Different elements of the Bible nearly appear to carry out that concept of do the fitting factor, and also you’re going to obtain this blessing.

Lydia Brownback
I believe now we have two issues right here. One, within the knowledge literature and these observations, it’s telling us how God designed the world to work. Below bizarre circumstances, in the event you plug in A and stay a sure approach, that is how the outcomes are going to be. In case you work laborious and put cash within the financial institution, you’re going to develop your checking account. That’s plugging in A to get B. That’s an remark, and God’s made the world work that approach. So in that sense, good issues do end in blessing. So we take a look at the knowledge literature and say sure, he’s observing that is how the world works. However after we go to the fifth commandment there, when it talks about honor your father and mom that it might go properly with you, we’re advised within the New Testomony about that commandment: that’s the primary commandment with a promise, and so we are able to take that one as a promise, in a different way from an remark. So it’s understanding the place it’s utilized in Scripture and saying how are we to know it right here? Which simply goes to indicate it’s actually good to know the several types of literature used, when it comes to understanding how we apply it and perceive it. However usually, you don’t need to have all that in your head simply to go learn the Bible. So we are able to take a look at this and say God is answerable for every part, and if we stay a sure approach, he’s set it up such that we’re going to be blessed. However once more, let’s return to motive. Are we being obedient to God as a result of we are saying, “If I do that, I’m going to get this”? Our motive is off anyway. So it’s nearly that you simply get to the purpose the place it’s asking the improper query. Are we dwelling for the Lord? As a result of if we’re, we’re going to be blessed spiritually and in tangible, earthly methods. We’re going to be blessed in each approach, each on this life and the life to come back. And it doesn’t imply there aren’t simply as many hardships and difficulties labored in, but it surely does imply that the Lord has designed the world to work that if we stay for him, we’re blessed. That’s what it’s.

Matt Tully
Let’s speak concerning the finish of the guide. In that ultimate chapter, chapter 12, within the first few verses there, we get this image of growing old and even previous age. And he opens that part, although, by saying, “Keep in mind additionally your Creator within the days of your youth earlier than the evil days come”—I believe context would counsel, “the evil days of previous age come.” So simply the primary query: Why does he direct this ultimate part to younger individuals slightly than older individuals? You’d suppose he’d say, “Let me speak to the previous individuals right here who’re experiencing the breakdown of their our bodies and let me remind you of one thing or encourage you of one thing.” However he really addresses younger individuals explicitly. Why is that?

Lydia Brownback
He does. I believe there are a few causes. One, and I simply noticed this spending a few years with my aged mother and watching her schools decline. I needed to be up near it for a very long time to see that if you get to a sure level of life, you’re not succesful anymore. My mother couldn’t even learn her Bible on the finish of her life as a result of her mind couldn’t take up what she was studying. So I believe it’s saying you continue to could also be dwelling, however are your schools nonetheless in tune to have the ability to reply to the Lord? Additionally, I’ve seen there are aged individuals who have been in Scripture all their lives a they’ve walked the Christian life in order that when these declines do occur, it’s so deeply ingrained of their soul that it nonetheless comes out, even after they’re not mentally sharp anymore, even when their our bodies are falling aside, as a result of it’s so deep in them. It’s not like they need to then instantly say, “Oh, I’m getting previous. I higher go discover that that now.”

Matt Tully
I higher attempt to memorize some Scripture.

Lydia Brownback
Sure. In order that’s one. And the opposite is, to the younger individuals, don’t waste your life. Don’t spend it on these meaningless issues. It’s so well timed that we’re speaking about this immediately. I acquired a name and a good friend of our household died in a aircraft crash on Saturday. He beloved flying. He would rebuild World Conflict I planes and simply reconstruct them in his personal hangar in his personal yard. And he would fly in airshows. It was the enjoyment and delight of his life, and he simply had a lot enjoyable doing this passion. And it was greater than a passion, he was simply immersed in it for a lot of organizations. However the aircraft he was in that he constructed himself had a malfunction and crashed on Saturday afternoon shortly after takeoff, and he didn’t survive. So he has left a grieving household shocked. We simply don’t know when loss of life goes to come back. That’s the opposite factor. It might probably come like that. He got down to have this joyful day. Wholesome man, joyful man. H got down to have this joyful, nice expertise. And we simply don’t know. And that’s one more reason you say to the younger, “You don’t know. You may by no means get to be previous. What in case your days are over tomorrow?” And I simply suppose immediately is at all times the fitting day to embrace what the Preacher’s telling us.

Matt Tully
It’s additionally so laborious, I believe, as younger individuals to essentially take into consideration what it means to become older and the truth of that, if the Lord permits us to stay even that lengthy. You talked about earlier that one of many details of this guide is to make us take a look at a few of these laborious issues about life that we regularly would like not to consider, to not take a look at straight on. However growing old is a type of issues that for younger individuals particularly, and possibly our tradition additionally contributes to this immediately, we don’t usually stay or see older individuals as a lot anymore. We don’t stay in multigenerational households as a lot, and now we have nursing properties the place older individuals will are inclined to go and stay typically. So we’re not even conscious of what that was like. Had been there some issues that you simply even realized as you have been strolling alongside your mother that shocked you about that course of?

Lydia Brownback
That’s an incredible level. At present, the aged are sometimes shunted off to amenities to all stay collectively. And I believe a few of that’s there’s a whole lot of sensible causes for that.

Matt Tully
There’s a approach to offer possibly higher care or extra care in these contexts.

Lydia Brownback
Sure. On the identical time, there are some worry in that too. It’s laborious to get that shut. It’s scary. And we do see that is the place life goes. From mud we’re born, to mud we’ll return. And also you’re seeing it taking place in entrance of your eyes. And it’s not simply the thoughts that isn’t as sharp. Each a part of your physique falls aside, and we don’t see it as up shut until now we have an aged individual in our life that we watch undergo the method. After which additionally after we’re younger, we predict that’s so far-off, that’s thus far off. And I assumed that up via my forties. And now I’m in my sixties, and I understand how briskly it goes. It’s proper right here. You understand that previous saying, Oh, life goes so quick. We see that increasingly more yearly.

Matt Tully
It’s a cliche. We are saying it on a regular basis.

Lydia Brownback
It’s true. Cliches are true. They’re cliches for a cause, as a result of they’re true. However nonetheless there’s an exponential racing ahead that occurs if you cross that fifty line. And particularly if you get close to sixty, you’re within the downward section. And instantly, how is it right here already? So the preacher desires individuals to acknowledge that after they’re twenty. Knowledge will say, “I could not really feel that approach immediately. I’m not wherever close to it, however let me pay attention and observe and open my coronary heart and thoughts to face the truth that I’m going to see that sometime. It’s going to be me—if I even get that far.” So it’s meant to open our eyes. This guide is supposed to open our eyes to face actuality so that we’ll be drawn and pushed to Christ our Savior.

Matt Tully
It makes me suppose again to one of many issues that I look again on my childhood and respect probably the most is my mother would take my sister and I often to go to shut ins—people who find themselves members of our church who couldn’t get out to get to church due to their previous age or their infirmities. And I simply keep in mind going to those visits possibly as soon as a month with completely different individuals and simply getting that point with individuals who have been considerably older and have been bodily have been impaired due to their age in numerous methods. And it’s at all times caught with me. It was such a useful expertise. It strikes me as possibly that’s an utility, even from this passage, to spend time with people who find themselves considerably older than you simply to not permit your self to be blind to the truth of this.

Lydia Brownback
That’s an incredible utility, Matt, for any age. And you probably have a grandmother in your life, you probably have simply whoever, or in the event you don’t have an aged relative, you may search it out that approach. And the way encouraging it’s for previous individuals to have younger individuals come see them.

Matt Tully
Yeah, completely. Effectively, let’s go to the very, very finish of chapter 12. As you stated earlier than, there’s this little nearly like an appendix to the guide that reads very in a different way. It has a special tone. I wish to perceive that. In chapter 12, verses 9 to 14, we simply see a bit little bit of a shift right here. What’s happening there? How ought to we perceive what this little part on the very finish is all about?

Lydia Brownback
Every little thing that’s come earlier than is his reflection and the conclusion he’s come to. And now he’s wrapping up the guide. It’s happening to speak about, in addition to being smart, “the Preacher additionally taught the individuals information, weighing and learning and arranging many proverbs with nice care. The preacher sought to search out phrases of pleasure, and uprightly he wrote phrases of reality.” So what we see right here on the finish is type of the credentials for every part that’s gone earlier than it. The Preacher: listed below are his credentials. Right here’s why he might say what he did. He’s a smart individual. He spent a whole lot of time gathering his knowledge, and right here it’s. After which we get the conclusion on the very finish. It’s in verses 13 and 14. That is the conclusion to the entire guide proper right here, the place he says, “The top of the matter. All has been heard. Concern God and hold his commandments, for that is the entire obligation of man. For God will carry each deed into judgment, with each secret factor, whether or not good or evil.” So it brings us again simply the place the guide of Proverbs brings us. The worry of the Lord is the start of knowledge. Information of the Holy One is knowing. That’s what we’re advised in Proverbs. It’s what we’re advised right here. Dwell your life in such a approach that it’s not meaningless and purposeless. And if you’re on this quest, just like the preacher was originally of the guide—What’s the function? What’s which means? What’s all of it about? Is it going to be in my cash? Is it the pursuit of cash? Is it the pursuit of delight? Is it the pursuit of all of the issues the world says that is the place you discover it? Don’t waste your life testing it. “I’ve executed that for you,” the Preacher says. “That is what I’ve concluded. So simply please take heed to me, and take heed to the Lord,” is what he’s saying.

Matt Tully
Yeah, that’s such a useful abstract. And I like that. He’s executed a lot of that testing for us. We don’t must be taught by expertise at all times. Typically we are able to be taught by instance. We will be taught by a wiser individual saying, “Hey, that is the trail of pleasure. That is the trail of freedom.”

Lydia Brownback
Effectively, yeah. And if this was Solomon who wrote it, and I believe the biblical proof is that it’s, he knew the Lord, however he additionally had extra of this world’s items than simply about anyone. He had 700 wives, he had a lot wealth, and he was identified for his knowledge. So we see somebody who actually had all of it. And if he had all of it—the most effective of what this world provides—and he had a lot knowledge as a present from God, what does he conclude? Which is best? He’s been capable of have each. And he then can inform us, “I’ve had each. That is higher.”

Matt Tully
So Lydia, as you consider this research that you simply’ve written and take into consideration the ladies who may begin doing this, what could be your encouragement to them as they give thought to embarking on this journey via the guide of Ecclesiastes? Once more, maybe it’s a guide they’ve by no means studied earlier than and this feels a bit bit intimidating. What would you permit them with?

Lydia Brownback
I’d say come to this guide to only hear what the Preacher says and what he’s saying about God. Don’t be afraid of it. It may be complicated at occasions. What’s he saying in a few of his little proverbs and his little poems, and what am I speculated to take from this? It’s the large image that you simply wish to come away with. And that’s why a Bible research might be actually useful. You possibly can talk about with one another. We had testers of my Bible research on Ecclesiastes reply the questions. And so they got here up, a few of them, with completely different solutions to the identical query. Neither reply was improper; they have been simply completely different. You twist a chunk of glass within the solar (a prism), and also you see completely different angles of attending to the identical factor, and completely different gentle shines on and completely different colours come out. So it’s that type of guide. So don’t really feel like it’s important to have a proper reply to a few of these. Go at it and understand it’s poetry. What’s he saying? What do I see? What do I observe right here? So don’t be afraid of it. Simply know that the tip is the place you’re going. And this factors us to Christ. And in addition that’s an incredible factor to remember, as a result of in the event you suppose—can I learn 1 Corinthians?

Matt Tully
Yeah.

Lydia Brownback
The Preacher ends and he says, “Concern God and hold his commandments. That is the entire obligation of man.” If you understand that going into the research, then you may take again up from there and browse it saying, “Ah! I see how he’s attempting to get there.” So take the final two verses of Ecclesiastes. Learn these first, after which learn the entire guide. Then it is sensible. In case you then see the place he was pointing in 1 Corinthians chapter 1, beginning in verse 26: “For take into account your calling, brothers. Not a lot of you have been smart in response to worldly requirements. Not many have been highly effective. Not many have been of noble beginning. However God selected what’s silly on the earth to disgrace the smart. God selected what’s weak on the earth to disgrace the sturdy.” And we see many contrasts arrange for us in Ecclesiastes too. Then Paul goes on right here in Corinthians: “God selected what’s low and despised on the earth, even issues that aren’t, to carry to nothing issues which might be, in order that no human being may boast within the presence of God. And due to him, you’re in Christ Jesus, who turned to us knowledge from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” In order that’s the entire level. All the Previous Testomony knowledge factors us to the one who’s knowledge, which is Jesus. He turned for us knowledge from God. So the knowledge we get within the Previous Testomony—the worry of the Lord, dwelling centered on him in awe and reverence, shaping life round God—that’s knowledge. That’s Previous Testomony biblical knowledge. All of it factors to the individual of knowledge. And after we are united to him by religion, which means now we have his knowledge. And it doesn’t imply we stay it completely, however we’re united to the one who’s knowledge, so now we have every part.

Matt Tully
Lydia, thanks a lot for strolling us via this actually wonderful guide. Perplexing at occasions, however as you’ve stated, as we dig into it, as we search to know it by religion, we’ll see the message of this guide come via loud and clear.

Lydia Brownback
Sure! If we method it prayerfully, all of the perplexing issues, the poetry and the Proverbs, it should actually come alive for us. And it’s one of the vital stunning items of literature within the Bible. And so it’s simply, once more, it’s so value doing to begin with the final two verses of the guide after which return and browse the entire thing. Then you definately perceive Ecclesiastes.

Matt Tully
Sounds good. Thanks a lot, Lydia.

Lydia Brownback
Thanks for having me, Matt.

Standard Articles in This Collection